12th OSonOs in Goa - Reflections

[Mirza Yawar Baig]

Indeed it was lovely......Goa, the sea, a Bollywood film being shot on the beach (did you arrange that also Janet?)........with actresses in bikinis gyrating repeatedly to a tune for more than 4 hours at last count......Boy!! Do they need to work for that money?? And nobody talks of exploitation of women......Strange world we live in!!!

Anyway to come to the OSonOs; I discovered that Harrison was not an electron but actually exists and is a long lost brother in spirit. So my trip was fulfilled almost before it started. All the rest was a bonus. And indeed that was plenty of that.

Meeting so many fellow OpenSpacers (is that legit?) from so many places in the world. Doing all sorts of wonderful and crazy things. Some I laughed with. Some I cried with. Some I was awed by. Some ......there are always many kinds of people.

Once again for me, the effectiveness of the Technology part of the OST was reinforced. This is a marvelous method and Harrison is a genius and all people who do OS are wonderful.

One disconnect: There were repeated calls from 2-3 people who felt that what was happening in Goa was more a networking socializing thing and had no real purpose other than that. This they felt was a waste of talent and ability collected there. 

On the face of it, this seemed valid. Until I had a thought: OS in practice is all about clearly defined purpose. The entire session is around a theme which relates to a definite business problem / issue. So there's no problem there.

An OSonOS is however all about re-connecting of OS Professionals. It is a home-coming,  a battery charging, a meeting, a reinforcing of ideas, sharing of challenges and rejuvenating of strength and energy. That is its purpose and "business problem / issue." So it is not a purposeless and social gathering.

The problem I believe is that this is not clear to some people, especially those who are new to OS and come to an OSonOS as their first (or almost first) experience. This can create a sense of  - "I did not get what I was looking for and so I am disappointed. " I believe this is avoidable if we clear this especially for people who may be coming for the first time.

More later. Have to run now

Yawar
Mirza Yawar Baig
President, Yawar Baig & Associates
 
Telephone: + 91 40 23376563
Fax & Voicemail: + 91 40 23372526
Mobile: + 91 98490 38258
URL: www.yawarbaig.com

"Change is inevitable. Progress is optional."

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